nd-crop-weather
STATE
NORTH DAKOTA CROP, LIVESTOCK & WEATHER REPORT
RELEASE DATE, MONTH ENDING DATE:
Released: March 6, 2006
For Month Ending: March 5, 2006
ISSUE
ND-CW1006
AGRICULTURAL SUMMARY
Weather conditions during February were colder than January, but near
normal levels, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics
Service, North Dakota Field Office. Snowfall amounts varied greatly across
the state with the largest totals in the northeast. Overall, weather
conditions have been favorable for livestock, but grain storage problems
continued to be reported. Hay and forage supplies were rated 94 percent
adequate to surplus. Some grain was moved to elevators as space became
available and seed was being cleaned for the upcoming planting season.
Statewide, average snow cover was 6.0 inches on March 5, compared with 0.9
inches a year ago. The northeast and east central districts reported the
most snow cover with 15.7 and 13.8 inches, respectively. Conversely, the
south central district reported no snow cover and only 0.1 of an inch was
reported in the southwest district.
County and secondary roads were rated 82 percent open, 14 difficult and 4
closed to travel. Road conditions were 12 percent drifted, 23 icy, 4
muddy and 61 dry.
FIELD CROPS REPORT
As of March 5, snow cover protection for alfalfa was rated 68 percent
poor, 25 adequate and 7 excellent. Snowfall in the northeast quarter of
the state increased snow cover for the winter dormant crops; however,
producers in many areas remained concerned about the lack of adequate
protection. Farmers were busy considering crop options and purchasing
inputs.
LIVESTOCK, PASTURE AND RANGE REPORT
During February, southwestern North Dakota experienced good weather for
livestock which allowed feed supplies to last longer. Calving and lambing
are in full-swing with 12 and 20 percent complete, respectively. Shearing
is nearly half finished, at 43 percent complete. Cattle conditions were
rated 1 percent poor, 16 fair, 69 good and 14 excellent. Sheep conditions
were rated 1 percent poor, 12 fair, 74 good and 13 excellent. Percent of
feed obtained from pasture and range was 5 percent for cattle and 4
percent for sheep.
WEATHER SUMMARY
Weather: The month of February turned out to be colder than the month of
January, especially in the eastern half of the state, but near normal
compared to monthly average temperatures. Deep snow cover in the
northeastern quarter of the state helped to keep temperatures below
average. Little or no snow cover in the west and central parts of the state
helped to keep temperatures at or slightly above seasonal normals.
Temperatures for the first half of the month started out below average in
the east and above average for the western parts of the state. A few fast
moving storm systems out of Canada brought windy conditions and some
snowfall across the northern and eastern parts of the state. Arctic air
moved in around February 17, bringing the coldest temperatures of the
winter season to the entire state. Temperatures rebounded toward the end of
the month to more seasonal levels. Overall the month of February finished
out with temperatures slightly above seasonal normals in the west to below
seasonal normals in the east. The month was also drier than normal for
much of the state. The western areas saw the least precipitation while
the northeast saw the greatest precipitation amounts.
Outlook, March: The month of March will start off with temperatures near to
above seasonal averages for the majority of the state. The first half of
the month will also see an active weather pattern. There will be several
chances of precipitation across the state through March 15. Temperatures
should remain above average through mid-month. A slight downturn in
temperatures is possible toward the latter half of the month. The overall
outlook for the month is to see near average precipitation across the west
and central, to above average precipitation in the eastern parts of the
state. Temperatures look to be near seasonal normals for the entire state
during the month. Climatologically speaking, March is the month when many
locations across the state will see a significant increase in daily average
temperatures from the beginning of the month to the end.
WEATHER INFORMATION TABLE
TEMPERATURE, February 1-28, 2006
District & Temperature
Stations High Low Average Depart/Norm 1/
Degrees F
NORTHWEST NA NA NA NA
Bowbells 43 -25 18 -4
Williston 47 -24 17 2
Mohall 42 -24 13 1
Minot 46 -23 13 2
NORTH CENTRAL NA NA NA NA
Baker 36 -27 10 0
Bottineau 37 -27 8 0
Rugby 37 -25 9 2
NORTHEAST NA NA NA NA
Cando 33 -27 15 -8
Cavalier 35 -28 11 -5
Forest River 34 -30 11 -6
Grand Forks 34 -29 10 -5
Langdon 31 -31 9 -5
St. Thomas 34 -27 11 -7
WEST CENTRAL NA NA NA NA
Hazen 49 -23 16 3
Turtle Lake 45 -23 19 -4
Watford City 48 -26 20 -1
CENTRAL NA NA NA NA
Carrington 38 -24 12 -2
Harvey 39 -24 13 1
Jamestown 38 -22 15 -1
Robinson 39 -23 13 1
Streeter 38 -23 15 0
EAST CENTRAL NA NA NA NA
Dazey 37 -22 12 -1
Fargo 36 -23 12 -3
Hillsboro 35 -31 12 -6
SOUTHWEST NA NA NA NA
Beach 55 -24 19 3
Bowman 54 -21 19 3
Dickinson 57 -22 19 2
Hettinger 52 -19 20 2
SOUTH CENTRAL NA NA NA NA
Mandan 46 -22 16 3
Linton 43 -21 15 5
SOUTHEAST NA NA NA NA
Edgeley 39 -19 15 3
Oakes 40 -16 13 4
Wyndmere 38 -20 14 -3
1/ Normal is the 1971-2000 average. NA=Not Available. Weather data
collected from NDAWN stations and compiled by UND Aerospace Regional
Weather Information Center.
CONTACT INFORMATION
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service, North Dakota Field Office
Cooperating with:
NDSU Extension Service,
Farm Service Agency,
ND Ag Weather Network (NDAWN)
and
UND Aerospace Regional Weather Information Center
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
David Knopf, Director
USDA, NASS, North Dakota Field Office
NDSU, IACC Bldg., Room 448
P.O. Box 3166
Fargo, ND 58108-3166
Telephone: (701) 239-5306
E-Mail: nass-nd@nass.usda.gov
Internet: http://www.nass.usda.gov/nd/